Automatic roll dispenser



Oct. 20, 1942. T. J..BRITT ETAL AUTOMATIC ROLL DISPENSER Filed Oct. 29, 1940 MUM m BM m 7 M SD Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 AUTOMATIC non. nisrsnsaa Thomas J. Britt, Long Beach, and Edmund A.

Trevino, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 29, 1940, Serial No. 363,286

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic roll dispenser, the prime object of which is to automatically replace an exhausted or used roll of paper, or the like, with a fresh roll, the used roll being released and the fresh roll replacing the same.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel automatic roll dispenser, in which a plurality of rolls are mounted in a cabinet, the one roll being held in operable position and the second roll in reserve, by a novel trip or latch element, said trip or latch element being operable by a finger engaging the roll which is in use.

Still another object is to provide a novel automatic roll dispenser of the character stated, which is simple in construction and effective in operation.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of our automatic roll dispenser, with the front wall removed to show interior construction.

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showin the course of travel of the rolls after the lower one has been completely exhausted.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the actuating finger.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the latch or trip plate.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a modified form of a track.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l indicates a housing or case, substantially rectangular in form, and provided with a suitable sump or basin 2 in the bottom thereof, into which the used roll will fall, and a suitable cover I at the top through which the additional rolls are fed into our dispenser. A pair of tracks 4 and 5 are fixedly attached to the side walls of the housing, and'are spaced inwardly from these side walls substantially as shown in Figure 1. These tracks are somewhat tortuous, the upper portion being substantially vertical, the middle portion curving outwardly for the purpose of moving the roll into operative position, and the lower portion inclining downwardly and rearwardly for the purpose of disposing of the shell of the roll after the material has been used therefrom.

An upper roll 6 is mounted in the tracks 4 and i, and a lower roll 1 is also mounted in the 65 ll is shown,

tracks, and is in useable position. Each of these rolls is mounted on a spool 8, the pintles of which extend outwardly, and fit-in the tracks 4 and 5, thus guiding the rolls 6 and 'l in a manner to be subsequently described. The spools 8 are provided with spring fingers 9, which engage the cardboard spool upon which the paper roll or the like is wound. On each side of the housing I, there is pivotally mounted an arcuate latch plate l0. These latch plates are pivotally secured to the side walls of the housing, and each is provided with an upper cam surface II and a lower cam surface l2. The roll 8 normally rests on the cam surface Ii, while the roll I normally rests against the cam surface l2, substantially as shown in Figure 2. The rolls 6 and I are thus restrained against downward movement and the lower roll 'I can be used in the normal manner.

A control finger It comprises a pair of arms M, I, which are pivotally mounted on the side walls of the housing. A cam plate l6 connects the arms l4, l5, and this plate extends transversely across the housing, and is arranged below the roll 6, and back of the roll I, substantially as shown. The lower edge of the cam plate It engages the periphery of the roll 1, and is held against this roll by suitable spring pressure such as the springs l6. Links i1, H are pivotally attached to the arms I4 and I5, and to each of the latch plates It, thus simultaneously controlling these latch plates, and causing the same to swing on their pivots as the cam plate I6 is swung inwardly following the contour of the used roll I, as the materlal is used from said roll.

In operation, the rolls are arranged in superposed relation as shown in Figure 2. The lower roll I protrudes somewhat from the housing I, and is used as desired. As this used roll is reduced in diameter, the cam plate i6 will swing inwardly, following the periphery of the used roll, and thus gradually tilting the latch plates ill on their pivots until the position is reached as shown in Figure 3. In this position, the latch plates ID are tilted forwardly so that the cam plates II and I2 disengage the pintles of the rolls 6 and 1. The lower roll then drops downwardly by gravity into the sump 2. The upper roll drops downwardly by gravity, as

' shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, until it strikes the cam plate It, pushing the cam plate rearwardly, and thus swinging the latch plate It to the original or latching position, as shown in Figure 2.

In Figure 6 a grooved or channel-like track and the spool pintle I9 is provided with a-disk 20 which fits in roll.

Having described our invention, we claim:

' 1. An automatic roll dispenser comprising a the grooved track, thus preventing transverse movement of the otally mounted in the housing. a pairof cam surfaces on the 'latchplate, each of the rolls engaging a cam surface, and trip means in the housing, said trip means engaging the used roll,

the rolls has been used, said trip meansengag ins the used roll.

2. An automatic roll dispenser comprising a housing, a plurality of rolls mounted in the housing, a track in which the rolls are mounted a latch-plate pivotally mounted in the housing,

means on the latch plate engageable by each of I said rolls, trip means operatively connected to the latch plate, said trip means engaging theused roll and operable from said used roll whereby the latch plate is tripped to release said rolls when the used roll is consumed.

3. An automatic roll dispenser comprising a housing, a plurality of rolls mounted in the housing, a track in which the rolls are mounted, a latch plate pivotally'mounted in the housing, means on the latch plate engageable by each of said rolls, a cam plate pivotally mounted in said housing, said cam plateengaging the used roll,

a link connecting. thecam plate and the latch plate whereby said latch plate is tilted to release the rolls when the used roll is consumed.

4. An automatic roll dispenser'comprising a housing, a .pair of superposed rolls in the housing, tracks in the housing in which the rolls are mounted, a latch means engaging each of the rolls, and trip means pivotally mounted in the housing and engaging the used roll, said trip means being linked to the latch means whereby the latch means is released from said rolls when the used roll is'consumed.

5. An automatic roll dispenser comprising a housing, a pair of superimposed rolls in the housing, a pair of trackways in the housing in which the rolls are sli'dably mounted, a latch plate pivsaid trip means being operatively connected to the latch plate whereby the latch plate is swung on its pivot to release therolls when the used roll is consumed.

6. An automatic roll dispenser comprising a housing, a pair of superimposed rolls in the housing, a pair of trackways in the housing in which the rolls are slidably mounted, a latch plate pivotally mounted in the housing, a pair of cam surfaces .on the latch plate, each of the rolls engaging a cam surface, trip means including a cam plate engaging the roll in use, means pivotally mounting the cam plate in the housing, and

a link connecting the cam plate and the latch plate whereby said latch plate is actuated as the cam plate follows the contour of the used roll.

7. An automatic roll dispenser, comprising a housing, a plurality of rolls positioned in the housing, a track in which the rolls are mounted, said track being grooved, a ,disk on each of the rolls fitting in the grooved track, a latch plate pivotally mounted in the housing, means on the latch plate engageable by each of said rolls, a cam plate pivotally mounted in said housing, said cam plate engaging the used roll, a link conmeeting the cam plate and the latch plate whereby said latch plate is tilted to release the rolls when the used roll is consumed.

8. An automatic roll dispenser, comprising a housing, a plurality of rolls positioned in the housing, each of said rolls being mounted on a spool, spring fingers on the spoolengaging theroll, guide means in which said rolls are mounted,

latch means engaging the rolls and trip means 

